The final day for local farmers to enroll in the Average Crop Revenue Protection program (ACRE) for the 2013 crop year is June 3, per Randolph County USDA Farm Service Agency Executive Director Eddie McKeown.

The press release sent from the agency notes that "ACRE is a revenue-based safety net, as opposed to the price-based safety net provided by counter-cyclical payments through the Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program (DCP)" and that "the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 extended both the ACRE and DCP programs for the 2013 crop year."

The DCP deadline is Aug. 2.

Provisions for the ACRE program are unchanged from those in 2012, save for those producers who were enrolled in ACRE in 2012 may also enroll in DCP in 2013 or re-enroll in ACRE for 2013, and vice-versa with the 2012 DCP participants.

Those wishing to enroll in ACRE are asked to call 660-263-1169, ext. 2 (McKeown County FSA office) to schedule an appointment before the aforementioned deadline. For more information on the programs, visit the Randolph County FSA Office (2995 County Rd 1325. Moberly), or go to www.fsa.usda.gov.